This article was co-authored by Janice Litza, MD. Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.

There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder where the body does not create enough protein to support muscle strength. There are several types of the disorder, and your diagnosis can affect the type of treatments you use. There isn't a known cure for muscular dystrophy, so prescribed treatments help to lessen symptoms, increase mobility, and slow the progression of the disease. Physical therapy is used in muscular dystrophy treatment for patients young and old. The exercises can increase muscle strength and range of motion.

Steps

Part 1

Consulting with Your Doctor

1

Create a treatment plan with your doctor. Many people suffering from this disease begin using corticosteroid medications; however, they come with risks of bone fracture. Discuss your options with your doctor at the onset of the disease, if possible.[1]

Your doctor will be able to advise you every step of the way and help you find the right course of treatment for your muscular dystrophy.

2

Stabilize your breathing and heart functions. Exercise can lead to an increase in blood pressure and shortness of breath, so make sure you undergo tests on your cardiovascular and respiratory systems before you start doing physical therapy.[2]

Doctors may prescribe an oxygen machine, sleep apnea device or ventilators for muscular dystrophy patients that have problems with breathing.

In severe cases, a pacemaker may be inserted into the body to regulate the beating of the heart.

3

Request mobility aids. If you are suffering from muscle weakness, your doctor may prescribe a cane, wheelchair, or walker to reduce the risk of falling. These will help you with mobility issues around your home, and when you venture out in public.[3]

Your doctor may recommend that you try a full physical therapy regime first before using an aid, or they may suggest you use an aid when performing the exercises.

4

Request a prescription for your physical therapy. Using a service that is requested by your doctor and supported by your health insurance company will reduce the cost of physical therapy. Inquire about physical therapy appointment limits with your insurance company.

Ask for recommendations of physical therapists who specialize in muscular dystrophy. People with specialized knowledge of the condition are more likely to be effective.

Call several physical therapy offices to inquire about their experience with your specific type of muscular dystrophy.

5

Begin physical therapy treatment with supervised exercise. It may take several weeks or months before you are able to develop an at-home exercise routine. Take your time choosing a physical therapist and undergo an initial consultation.

Choose a therapist that is recommended by your doctor (or friends), that is well qualified, that you get along with well, and that you feel is invested in your treatment.

The aim of regular exercise is to keep muscles in shape. It can also reduce weight, leaving a lower burden on joints, tendons, and muscles.

2

Walk a short distance each day. Taking a short 10-20 minute walk every day can be very beneficial for your muscles and will do more good than pushing yourself to walk an hour or more. More frequent short walks are better than fewer longer walks.[5]

Low-impact exercise has more physical benefits for those with muscular dystrophy than high-impact exercises that encourage cramping the next day.

3

Go for a short swim. Try swimming laps for a short period of time (around 10-20 minutes) once every day or so. This shorter activity period will be easier on your body and will benefit you more than fewer, longer swimming sessions.

Overworking your body with intense exercise is actually detrimental for those who have muscular dystrophy.

4

Try other exercises to diversify your workouts. Remember that you need to try to work out different muscles through varying exercises. Performing the same workout routine over and over will only concentrate on a specific group of muscles, while overlooking the rest.

Focus on arms one day, then switch to legs the next. Do some low-impact aerobic exercises during one workout session, then change it up with some strength training during your next workout.

Consider using an elliptical machine (on a low setting) or a stationary bicycle for a relatively low-impact workout.

5

Work in your garden. Gardening can be a great way to include physical activity in your daily life. It involves bending, standing, lifting, digging, and just being generally active. You’ll be outdoors, moving around, and using your muscles.

You may also get a sense of personal satisfaction at watching something grow that you worked on yourself.

6

Take ballroom dancing classes. Ballroom dancing is another recommended method of adding more physical activity to your life. It is a low-impact activity that most people are capable of doing. It requires you to walk, move your arms and legs, and keeps you exerting energy for periods of time.[6]

You can also try other forms of dancing – like line dancing or square dancing.

7

Participate in active recreation activities to increase happiness. Living with muscular dystrophy can take a toll on you emotionally. It’s important to maintain your mental health, as well as your physical health. Including active recreational events in your life, especially those with a social aspect, may help you feel more connected and more in control of your life.

Try going to a picnic hosted by your church or participating in a parade in your community.

Try gentle yoga or Tai Chi, which can be done alone or in a group setting. Both offer relaxation and mindfulness aspects, which can help you cope with pain.

8

Avoid pushing yourself too hard. Take care while you are exercising to make sure you can handle the exertion. If you start to feel pain or discomfort, you should stop what you’re doing immediately and give your body a break. Moving forward, try to switch to more low-impact activities that your body is better equipped to handle.

Discuss any continued pain with your doctor.

Part 3

Doing Range-of-Motion Exercises

1

Develop a range-of-motion exercise routine. These prescribed exercises are tailored to your body to promote joint flexibility. Doing these exercises every day is likely to increase mobility and lessen your risk of contractures.[7]

These exercises should be simple enough to begin at home and do regularly. Stop the exercise immediately if it causes a severe increase in pain. You should not try to push your joints past the point where they move.

Do arm raises. A type of range-of-motion exercise for the shoulders involves raising your arms over your head. If you’re a righty, your stronger arm will likely be your right one. To begin this exercise, you should first grasp your non-dominant arm with your dominant arm at the wrist and hold it, then raise it above your head. Hold this pose for several seconds.[8]

Then repeat the exercise with the dominant hand grasping the non-dominant arm.

3

Practice range-of-motion exercises for your lower body. Keeping all of your joints active is important for maintaining mobility with muscular dystrophy. Try moving all of your lower body joints daily through range-of-motion exercises.

You can lie on your back in your bed and raise one leg up in the air. Practice bending your leg at the knee and rotate the bottom half of your leg at the knee joint. Do the same with the other leg.

Try lying on your side and lifting your leg up and down slowly.

Even just raising your legs up and down can help with joint mobility.

If you have trouble doing these kinds of activities on your own, you can try doing an adapted aquatic version in the swimming pool, or have someone else assist you.

4

Try aquatic range-of-motion exercises. Research physical therapy locations that have a pool and have the therapist instruct you on how to safely exercise in the water. Performing exercises in the water gives your body an added layer of protection because the water makes your body weigh less, making the exercise even more low-impact overall.

Return to your physical therapist to adjust your exercises. Muscular dystrophy patients must adjust their exercise routine as the condition progresses. Return every few months to assess any changes that need to be made in your plan.[9]

Keep your physical therapist updated about your progress, symptoms, and any impediments you might be facing. It’s normal for your therapy routine to alter over time as your needs change.

Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.

Tips

Review other treatment methods along with physical therapy. Contractures that cause immobility can sometimes be released with surgery. Although doctors are likely to prescribe less invasive treatments at the beginning, you should create an alternate physical therapy plan if you are going to have surgery to loosen tight tendons.

Warnings

Avoid hills, stairs, jumping, and other high-impact exercise, in favor of low-impact and range-of-motion exercise.

Article Info

This article was co-authored by Janice Litza, MD. Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.